Bishop: The Church survived Diocletian, Khrushchev and will survive Tkachenko

Archbishop Sylvester of Bilohorodka. Photo: news.church.ua

Despite all efforts, the authorities will not be able to destroy the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. This was stated during a video conference with Greek journalists by the rector of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary, Archbishop Sylvester of Bilohorodka.

According to him, "the authorities have set a course, if not for total destruction, then for the maximum weakening of the UOC."

“I don’t know how far the state can go, especially if there is no reaction from the West to what is happening in the religious sphere in Ukraine. But I am absolutely convinced that even with a complete ban and liquidation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, we will not go anywhere, because people remain, and they will follow us,” the bishop said.

“In its long history, the Church survived Diocletian, and the Ottoman yoke, and the Stalinist regime, and Khrushchev’s persecution – somehow we will also survive Minister of Culture Tkachenko,” the hierarch emphasized.

As the UOJ wrote, Archbishop Sylvester said that many believers are determined to defend the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra to the last.

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